When developing new varieties, it's crucial to see how seeds perform in different climates. That's why Rijk Zwaan also has a seed production location in Mexico. Such a facility requires considerable maintenance – from boilers to pipe rail trolleys, from toilets to lamps. Hendrik Hendriks leads a maintenance team of 10 for Rijk Zwaan in Mexico.
Electric trolleys
"We have here 100 electric pipe rail trolleys (Br03, BR04, BRW170, Easykit, Benomic, Benomic star, Benomic S500) and 2 Meto spraying robots from Berg Hortimotive in operation." This isn't necessarily typical for the Mexican market. "Growers in Mexico look at the price. Berg isn't the cheapest, but it surely is one of the best. You see here that high-tech growers mainly have electric trolleys, while the low- and mid-tech growers have a mix of electric and mechanical trolleys." A key reason to opt for electrical is comfort. "The spraying robot, for example, is automatic, and therefore very precise, because you don't have speed changes."
In addition to the electric trolleys, mechanical pipe rail trolleys are also used but for specific tasks. "We use them up to 1.20 meters high. The electric ones are used for the higher tasks and maintenance between 4 and 5 meters high."
Hendrik has been in horticulture for about 7 years, before that he spent 15 years in agricultural mechanization. "That's when I joined Royal Brinkman. That's how I came into contact with Berg. I also know various other brands here in Mexico, but when you look at Berg, you see a lot of trolleys that are 10, 15, or even 20 years old and still working. This clearly shows that they deliver quality."
Besides Hendrik's personal preference, Rijk Zwaan's choice for Berg is logical: the breeder works well with Royal Brinkman, which in turn deals a lot with Berg (and has even become the owner of the mechanization company).
Fleet
When Rijk Zwaan started in Mexico about 15 years ago, they purchased second-hand trolleys from Berg. "The first batch is thus 15-20 years old, but there are also trolleys from 1991 that are still operational." New batches were purchased in 2018 and 2023. "But always for expansion, we haven't replaced anything yet. All trolleys are still functional."
No frills
As head of maintenance, Hendrik is naturally busy maintaining the Berg trolleys. "It starts with usage: are the trolleys being charged and cleaned properly? That's what the user must do before we come into the picture. Where we first cleaned with water and disinfectant, we now use wipes and disinfectant spray."
Not a trivial matter in a breeding company, where hygiene is extremely important. But luckily, Berg's machines are easy to clean, Hendrik explains. "There are no frills – there are few nooks and crannies, which makes cleaning a bit easier."
Moreover, preventive maintenance is performed every month. Most parts and supplies needed for this can be purchased locally, which is convenient since Royal Brinkman is also present in Mexico. "And for very specific questions, I can always contact Berg in the Netherlands."
For more information:
Berg Hortimotive
Tel.: +31 (0)174 51 77 00
Email: sales@berghortimotive.com
https://berghortimotive.com/